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Posted 12/10/2011 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Hope everyone is well. It's good to be back!

I am wondering whether anyone here is experiencing upper abdominal pain (It seems to be always there, but it's dull and not noticeable unless I decrease my activity level)? I have no other symptoms (other than sore throat from acid irritation).

I recently switched from nexium 40mg to omeprazole 20mg (2 per day) because of some insurance changes, but I don't think that's the problem.

I had a upper GI done this summer and they found everything to be normal. I've been taking nexium regularly since. I was wondering whether this pain could be from something serious? Thinking logically tells me that this is really unlikely, but I would like to talk to someone about it.

I'm hoping to speak to my gastro (whom I will see for the first time later this month) to schedule an endoscopy.

What's your thought?

Post Edited (cupCakeCat) : 12/9/2011 7:16:16 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/10/2011 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
cupCakeCat

i used to think that all PPIs were the same...and for me they pretty much were

but ive heard from so many reliable people here at healingwell that changing from one to another made a significant difference
so
i wouldlnt rule out that your change in medication may (might) have had something to do with the pain you are experiencing

having said that, pain, from where i think the top of my stomach lies, is a regular event for me so all i can say is im sorry for your pain and i feel it too

as for scoping...yeah im a big fan of getting scoped, as often as the gatekeepers will let us
but
the new drum i beating is.... flexible-trans-nasal-esophagoscapy otherwise know as TNE

ive never had it, always been scoped before the old fashioned way, but some places like mayo clinic, u of wisconsin, uc davis, and im sure many other teaching hospitals are now doing it, and many clinics and doctors offices too!

have you heard of it?

this procedure is special because you dont get general anesthesia, dont need a driver to chauffeur you in and out , and its quicker, and less expensive

the doctor goes in thru the nose with a very flexible very thin fiber optic device, lite and cam...way cool

unfortunately its not available everywhere and im going to have to travel to get it

what ever method is available to you...its good either way, so glad to hear you are going to get esophagoscopy

best of good luck to you with your procedure
mt

Post Edited (mock turtle) : 12/9/2011 8:43:42 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/10/2011 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Mock Turtle,

Thanks for your reply! Cool! I am close by (well, kinda, sort of) to UC Davis so I can get myself there and out. I'll ask my Gastro about it. I have heard of this sort of procedure although it wouldn't be too much of a problem if I were to get it done the old fashioned way. Anything is better than nothing.

That's interesting, but I guess I just need to stick to my medicine (since the new lower dosage switch I've been spreading them out through the day differently since I'm always on the go). I'm sorry to hear it's a regular event for you, it's definitely not fun. Although it's tolerable if you know that you're going to be okay after all.

I'll keep y'all updated.

Thanks for all your support.
Posted 12/10/2011 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
I have that very frequent discomfort mid sternum too, some days it's not there, some days it builds gradually over the day, other days I just seem to have it all day long. Hugely variable and never completely absent. It is most certainly worse on days when I do a lot of housework, but it does have other unidentifiable triggersI guess. My scope doesn't look so bad - my pain and discomfort are not in proportion to the amount of actual pathology - and there's a few of us on here like that sadly.

MMM
Posted 12/10/2011 9:32 AM (GMT 0)
PS: you may find they don't want to repeat your scope again so soon, without what they call "red flag" symptoms such as blood loss. They'll most likely go with further twiddling of medication - sorry to disappoint!!
Posted 12/10/2011 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
I echo MMM's first statement completely. I have the pain a lot also with no correlation of when or why.
Posted 12/12/2011 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
For several years I had a pain below my sternum much of the time. Mine was sometimes worse when I did not follow my reflux diet. In April I had a TIF and the pain was less frequent but I still had it on occasion. The doctor put me on Carafate for two months and the pain went away.
Posted 12/12/2011 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies, they really helped me and hopefully they can help someone else out there.

mudmagnetmum: I see. I would think that an upper GI is different than a scope? So they won't want to do that?

Well, I've been trying to reduce my carb intake (over the summer I read some stuff on the Paleo diet and how carbs are related to more acid production), and that's helped. Even if it hadn't, I haven't been gaining weight.
It's really hard to eat bland and healthy when you're on a college campus....
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